PARENTS have started campaigning against planned school closures in Birkenhead.

PARENTS have started campaigning against planned school closures in Birkenhead.

At least six Wirral primary schools face the axe because of falling pupils numbers in the borough.

Among the proposals are for Catholic and Church of England schools to merge and parents fear increasing class sizes could put their children's education in jeopardy.

Peter and Terri- Louise Charles, whose five-year-old daughter Kira attends Vyner primary school in north Birkenhead, are amazed at the plans.

Mr Charles said: "We do not want Vyner to close and are willing to do anything within our power to assist in keeping it open.

"For years the government and the LEAs have told us that they want to reduce class sizes and take on more teachers and then this. Now class sizes are too small?

"We had the option of three schools and in fact three places were offered. We chose Vyner because it suited our daughter in the way education was offered, instigated and followed through.

"It also welcomed us as parents, and gave us an insight, but also an involvement in the way things were done."

Head teachers at Vyner Primary, St Paul's RC primary, The Dell, Well Lane and Manor primary in Birkenhead have all been told their schools face closure. More schools across Wirral are expected to follow.

Kathryn Conlan, whose threeyearold son Joe started at St Paul's RC primary yesterday, said she had been shocked to hear the school could soon close.

"We chose this school because Joe was christened at the church and now he'll probably move just as he get used to it."